Rally Live: Grand Prix of South America, Day 7

Rally Live: Grand Prix of South America, Day 7

Rest Day

So, it’s Rest Day two in the high mountain town of Uyuni. A day to take it easy, kick back and relax. Well, by now you know that’s just not going to happen! As a special optional extra, generously arranged (and paid for), by John and Fiona at Bespoke Rallies, cheers guys. We were all given the chance to go out onto the UNESCO World Heritage salt flats. These salt flats extend 100km and you can see a snow (yes snow), covered volcanic peak in the distance. Totally mad! The flats were, well, flat; you could see for miles, and in the distance the hills shimmered in a mirage.

The cars were set a four lap auto test. This comprised of a short loop, long loop, short then long loop – surprisingly we all managed to get this spot on. With everybody going the correct way for the correct number of laps Yeh! The test was timed at 50kmph with the winner getting the closest to the stated time. A splendidly quick, smooth and most importantly, accurate test was completed by car 15 driven by Doris Specogna (and in a last minute navigator change, navigated by your blogger, who can report first hand that Girl Power rules OK and that Doris missed her calling as an F1 driver). Doris achieved this win by being only 1 second away from the set time. In second place came a very creditable drive by car 12 driven by Werner Meier who narrowly missed a win by being 2 seconds out.

The fun was not yet over as there was a skill test of acceleration and breaking over a 500m standing start, to stop astride the line test. Using all his horse power, the small but fast Porche 911 Coupe of Gerd Buehler and Armin Kneupfing was expertly whizzed over the line, a clear 3.6 seconds faster than the next car of car 8 the Volvo Amazon of Hans Wartenweiler and in third place car 12 of Werner Meier.

Participants Eagerly Await Their Turn On The Salt Flats

This left participants time for lunch, a quick trip around the flower market and trying out a bit of local colour. For those of a bolder disposition a drive out to the local Train Cemetry gave an interesting experience and a chance to climb and clamber over the rusting relics of Bolivian railways.

It’s A Convoy!!!

After getting the cars nicely salted a thorough car wash was was in order

This left participants time for lunch, a quick trip around the flower market and trying out a bit of local colour. For those of a bolder disposition a drive out to the local Train Cemetry gave an interesting experience and a chance to climb and clamber over the rusting relics of Bolivian railways.

Mad As Hatters. Two of The Crew Give The Local Hats A Try. Helped By A Lovely Shopkeeper

About Bespoke Rallies

Bespoke Rallies offers adventurous classic car style tours in some of the world’s most fascinating regions. These are not speed events but offer the opportunity to enjoy driving on the lesser travelled by-ways.